Brain Tumor Program

After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, patients will find that a number of specialists at Eisenhower Neuroscience Institute will be directly involved in the patient’s decision process regarding treatment (surgical or non-surgical) of their tumor. Utilizing the latest technologies available, this multidisciplinary team approach ensures that the most appropriate treatment will be performed with the patient’s best interests in mind.

Patti H. Richardson, MD

Alfred C. Shen, MD

The team has seen excellent outcomes in its brain tumor program, which focuses on multiple types of tumors, including primary tumors, which begin in the brain; secondary tumors, which are cancers that began elsewhere and have metastasized to the brain (the most common tumors); and brain stem tumors, which are located in the most dense, complex areas of the brain. "Brain stem tumors have historically been very difficult to treat surgically because of the risks involved in cutting into that part of the brain," Dr. Limonadi explains. "In the past, the best we could do for a patient was to treat the tumor with radiation and hope to slow its growth. Now, thanks to new technology, we have had a number of successes at Eisenhower surgically removing the tumor and returning the patient to their life very quickly."

Eisenhower neurosurgeons are among a very small group in the country who use a technique called stereotactic neuroendoscopy to minimize the invasiveness of brain stem tumor removal and other brain surgeries. The procedure uses an endoscope, a small probe with a light and a camera to guide the operation through the pathways of the brain, much like an automobile's GPS (global positioning system) guides a car through city streets. Impressively, the neurosurgery team at Eisenhower is the only medical facility in the Coachella Valley utilizing this technology.

The Eisenhower Neuroscience Institute's team approach has been critical to the successful treatment of brain tumors. Dr. Limonadi chairs the Brain Tumor Board that reviews all Eisenhower Neuroscience Institute cases. The elite board includes neurosurgeons, neurointerventional radiologists (who lay out the anatomy of the tumor), radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. "Together we can come up with the most comprehensive, evidence-based approach, the option that provides the best treatment with the least amount of risk to the patient," shares Limonadi. "By working together, we can optimize surgical outcomes and obtain the best quality of life for the patient."